Alexandria, VA - The Arctic is getting warmer and wetter. As temperatures rise and sea ice melts, scientists suspect that system feedback cycles may further speed up the warming process. Now, a new study out of the University of Colorado at Boulder is showing how shifting patterns of humidity may bring about changes in the Arctic atmosphere: The new study compiled data from the 1950s through the present to examine the subtle changes in the Arctic atmosphere over time. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA – The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce the availability of a recorded webcast of the September 20, 2012 webinar focused on student recruitment strategies for geosciences programs. The session was led by Dallas Rhodes (emeritus) and Charles Trupe, Associate Professor, of Georgia Southern University who discussed particularly successful strategies in student recruitment in their geosciences program. In addition, the full discussion session with other Earth and Space Science Heads and Chairs follows the presentation which highlights other successes and challenges in recruiting quality students into geosciences programs. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) and the National Park Service (NPS) invite you to participate in the third annual National Fossil Day on October 17, 2012 during Earth Science Week (October 14-20). National Fossil Day brings together paleontologists, educators, and students from across the country to participate in fossil-related events and activities in parks, classrooms, and online! AGI and the NPS have developed resources and activities to highlight the scientific and educational value of paleontology, as well as the importance of preserving fossils for future generations. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - The probability that a given natural hazard could become a natural disaster is higher today than at any previous point in history, largely because of population growth putting more people and infrastructure in harm’s way. Who pays for the damage and how is value and risk assessed? Much of it comes down to insurance and reinsurance agencies, which are relying more and more on sophisticated catastrophe modeling tools to help gauge when the next disaster will strike, and how much it will cost. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — Diesel-soaked clothing, 90-hour work weeks, and the constant groaning of a multimillion-dollar oil rig towering overhead: Welcome to life in Williston, N.D., home of the United States’ latest oil boom. In this month’s issue of EARTH Magazine, R. Tyler Powers, a young geologist thrust into the middle of the new boomtown, offers his perspective on what life is like today in the new Wild West. Thousands of oil rigs sit atop the Bakken Formation, a Late Devonian to Early Mississippian rock formation that underlies parts of Montana, North Dakota, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - Celebrate the first-annual Geologic Map Day! On October 19, as a part of the Earth Science Week 2012 activities, join the American Geosciences Institute (AGI), the Association of American State Geologists (AASG), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in promoting the importance of geologic mapping. Geologic maps are important for education, science, business, and a variety of other public policy concerns. Geologic Map Day will focus the attention of students, teachers, and the general public on the study, uses, and significance of these tools, by engaging audiences through educational activities, print materials, online resources, and public outreach opportunities. [Read More]

AGI has released the new 2012 Critical Needs Document, titled “Critical Needs for the Twenty-First Century: The Role of the Geosciences.” This document is a list of critical issues and policy recommendations for the next presidential administration, informed by AGI and its federation of 50 professional geoscience societies. The new report builds on the first set of recommendations handed down in 2008 with the addition of an eighth Critical Need: To sustain ocean, atmosphere, and space resources. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — Contrary to previous thinking, the Antarctic continent has experienced periods of warmth since the onset of its most recent glaciation. A team of researchers has discovered that two brief warming spells, each lasting less than 30,000 years, punctuated the omnipresent cold of Antarctica. Lodged in ocean sediment nearly 20 million years old, ancient pollen and leaf wax samples taken from the Ross Ice Shelf suggest that the suggested maximum temperature reached a balmy 7 degrees Celsius in the summer — about 11 degrees warmer than conditions today. [Read More]

On September 11th, the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) will participate in a focus group to discuss the United Nations’ process of defining Article 15 in the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Article 15 Recognizes the Human Right to “Enjoy the Benefits of Scientific Progress and its Applications” The focus group will be led by the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s (AAAS) Science and Human Rights Coalition. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is proud to support Protect Your Groundwater Day (PYGWD) on September 11, 2012. Groundwater is a critical source of fresh water for society, both in terms of potable water and agricultural and industrial needs. This globally crucial but scarce resource requires careful stewardship in order to maintain its quality and quantity. Protect Your Groundwater Day—sponsored by AGI member society, the National Ground Water Association (NGWA)—promotes the responsible stewardship of groundwater through educational and outreach initiatives that help raise societal awareness. [Read More]